[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 30 (Tuesday, February 25, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2695-S2696]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   THE MEASURE OF SUCCESS: CELEBRATING A LEGACY OF AFRICAN AMERICAN 
                              ACHIEVEMENT

  Ms. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, ``Success is to be measured not so much 
by the position one has reached in life, as by the obstacles which he 
has overcome while trying to succeed.'' This statement, made over 100 
years ago by Booker T. Washington, rings true today.
  Twenty-seven years ago, February was designated ``Black History 
Month.'' Today, I am pleased to join in the celebration of the many 
achievements and contributions African Americans have made to our 
history. I encourage all of you to celebrate this rich history of 
achievement year-round.
  America's history has been shaped by the courage, talent, and 
ingenuity of African-Americans. Each February we rediscover familiar 
stories of those who triumphed over bigotry and hatred to help move our 
Nation closer to living up to its greatest potential. In the lives of 
Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Rosa Parks, and 
Thurgood Marshall we find heroes who dedicated their lives to liberty, 
freedom, and equality. During this month we also celebrate the 
achievements and vision of civil rights leaders such as Martin Luther 
King, Jr. and Medgar Evers and are reminded that we must continue the 
important work they started.
  A look through our own State's history reveals a rich portrait of 
African American achievement in California.
  In science, George Edward Alcorn, Jr. is a brilliant physicist and 
inventor who has made considerable contributions to semiconductor 
technology and other scientific fields. He graduated from Occidental 
College in Los Angeles with a B.A. in Physics, and received an M.S. and 
Ph.D. in Nuclear, Atomic and Molecular Physics from Howard University. 
He has been issued more than 25 patents for his groundbreaking work and 
is most well-known for inventing the Imaging X-ray Spectrometer used 
for detecting life on other planets.
  Dr. Alcorn has also been extensively involved in community service. 
He was awarded a NASA-EEO medal for his contributions in recruiting 
minority and women scientists and engineers and for his assistance to 
minority businesses in establishing research programs. He is a founder 
of Saturday Academy, which is a weekend honors program designed to 
supplement and extend math-science training for inner-city students in 
grades 6 to 8.
  Mae Jemison, an African American physician, scientist and engineer, 
was the first woman of color to go into space more than 10 years ago. 
Dr. Jemison was only 16 when she entered Stanford University; she 
graduated in 1977 at age 20 with degrees in both chemical engineering 
and African American studies. A few years later, she received a medical 
degree from Cornell University. Dr. Jemison was selected by NASA in 
1988 for Astronaut training and in 1992 became a mission specialist 
aboard the space shuttle Endeavor.
  Throughout her career, Dr. Jemison remained undaunted by the lack of 
role models in her area of expertise and instead paved the way as a 
hero for women and minorities interested in the science and technology 
fields. She once said, ``I saw a world that was changing and I wanted 
to be a part of that.''
  Last year, she was honored by the Mentoring Center in Oakland during 
a ceremony where she stressed the need for caring adults to reach out 
for young people in these troubled times. Just recently, Dr. Jemison 
encouraged a young audience at the Modesto Community College to shoot 
for the stars and realize their capacity to dream. She said, ``We have 
to have a vision of what we want the world to be in the future. We must 
combine lessons from the past with our responsibility for the present. 
It's the only way to have hope for the future.''
  Politics: African Americans in the political arena have worked 
tirelessly to advance the civil rights of all people in California. 
Largely as a result of their efforts, African Americans are well 
represented in California local, State and Federal Governments.
  Below is a short list of other African-American Californians who have 
made similar contributions to our State and communities across the 
Nation:
  Yvonne Brathwaite Burke was the first black woman to be elected to 
the California General Assembly and the first to be elected to 
represent California in the United States Congress.
  Congressman Ronald V. Dellums was elected to Congress in 1970. He was 
the first African-American to serve on the Armed Services Committee and 
was its first black chairman.
  Herb J. Wesson, Jr. is only the second African American in California 
history to be elected the 65th Speaker of the California State 
Assembly, one of the most powerful positions in the State. As a student 
at Lincoln University, a historically black college, Mr. Wesson was 
inspired to pursue a political career while listening to a speech by 
then Congressman Ron Dellums of California.
  During his career, Mr. Wesson has introduced bills that protected 
labor rights for immigrant workers, ensured pay equity across gender 
lines, increased funding for low performing schools, and promoted job 
training for at-risk teens. He has earned a reputation as a natural 
born leader, mediator

[[Page S2696]]

and bridge-builder, someone other Assembly members turned to when 
seeking to resolve a conflict.
  Sports: African Americans have played an extremely influential role 
in the development of professional sports. Among the most prominent, 
Tony Gwynn has demonstrated excellence on and off the field. A native 
of Long Beach, Gwynn played baseball for the San Diego Padres for 20 
years.
  In addition to his incredible skill on the diamond, Gwynn became a 
sports hero for youth across the nation. Demonstrating sportsmanship, 
community service, and athleticism, Gwynn has won numerous community 
awards for his dedication and activism. He was inducted into the World 
Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame in 1999.
  California can also be very proud of its local African American 
heroes--those who often go unrecognized by the national community.
  Improving the community relations in her native neighborhood of 
Watts, in Los Angeles, has been a lifelong commitment for ``Sweet'' 
Alice Harris. ``Sweet Alice,'' as she is affectionately called, is the 
founder of Parents of Watts, a program designed to encourage children 
to stay in school and away from drugs.
  Today, Parents of Watts has grown into numerous organizations that 
provide emergency food and shelter for the homeless, offer health 
seminars, provide legal and drug counseling, and operate a program for 
unwed mothers.
  Sweet Alice is truly one of the best known and most influential 
community leaders of her generation. Her lifetime of service and 
commitment to disadvantaged youth stems from her early years as a 
homeless teenage parent at age 16. In March of 2002, Lt. Governor Cruz 
Bustamante honored Sweet Alice with the Lt. Governor's Woman of the 
Year award for her tireless efforts for providing Los Angeles youth 
with a fighting chance in their community, a dedication that has 
spanned nearly 40 years.
  This Black History Month, I would like to applaud all African 
American heroes who have overcome great adversity and risen to 
incredible heights of success. Many of these heroes have come from 
humble beginnings, making their successes and contributions to their 
communities all the more remarkable.
  I look forward to the coming year in which we will, without a doubt, 
continue to see African Americans succeed and make a difference, both 
in their communities and in our country.

                          ____________________